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©2000-2003 Phil White

Pivoting Spinning Reels

When the spinning craze swept the U.S. after World War II, many variations of pivoting spinning reel were produced in this country for short periods of time. These reels did not last long as the spinning reels with oscillating spools, pick up fingers and bails soon took over the market. However short the life span of these reels in the U.S., the concept was actually very old, and is still quite interesting. The photos that follow are all thumbnails and an enlarged picture can be seen by clicking on the photo.

pivoti3.jpg (14793 bytes) Malloch. The pivoting fixed spool "spinning" reel was conceived by G. R. Holding of Kent, England, and patented Nov 28, 1878. The first commercially successful spinning reel of any type was the Malloch reel, which was patented by Peter Malloch on Sep 3, 1884. The Malloch reel lasted for over 50 years and was made in many sizes and variations. 
pivoti4.jpg (17112 bytes) Alvey. The Australian Alvey reel was the only other pivoting reel to have the success of the Malloch. In 1920 Charles Alvey began manufacturing an oak version of the Malloch reel on a treadle lathe. By the mid-1930s the family business was producing 25,000 reels per year. Alvey began manufacturing reels with Bakelite spools in 1936. Alvey reels are still produced today in many sizes and configurations. 

Pivoting Reels from the United States:

Allen. US interest in pivoting reels centered after World War II with the boom in spinning as a casting method. However, Oscar Allen, of Lincoln, Illinois patented such a reel in 1903. I do not know if Mr. Allen's reel was ever manufactured, for I am unaware of any examples ever surfacing. If you find one in that old farm sale, call me quick. 
pivoti1.jpg (10098 bytes) Ball on Ball. late 1940s. Manufactured by Karge and Son of Brockport, NY. in the late 1940s. Only a very limited number were made, so this reel is scarce. Thanks to Bob Wentz for the photo. He owns one of only three Ball on Ball reels that I am aware of.
Colgrove. This flip up version was made in the early 1950s by Colgrove Tackle Co. in Vancouver, WA. It is still fairly common. It is made of cast aluminum, and is found anodized in black (as shown), or a blue-grey color.
pivoti6.jpg (16751 bytes) Dragonfly. This reel was made by Sierra Angling Equipment Co. of Reno, NV. You held down the thumb lever while casting. This reel was unusual in that you could also get a fly line spool for the reel, and you used it in the horizontal position as a fly reel.  
Fargo Spin-Caster. This reel was sold by Art Fargo of Dayton OH from 1948-50. It was manufactured for Fargo by D&B Model Co. Little else is known about this reel. Squeezing the lever in front pivots the spool to the front for casting.
pivoti2.jpg (16543 bytes) Flo-Line. This is the reel that reminds people of a pencil sharpener. It was manufactured by Lou Meyer Co. of Kenosha, WI. It was made in the late 1940s and perhaps in the early 1950s. It is still fairly easy to find, and is often found new in the box.
Markle Rite Angler. This interesting reel was manufactured in the late 1940s by Markle Featherlite Products Corp of Detroit, MI. It was made of aluminum and stainless steel.
Mar-Vel. This stainless steel reel was made by O'Brian Industries of Los Angeles, CA in the late 1940s. 
Merit. This is one of the most bizarre reels in this category. It looks like a conventional casting reel, but push the lever, and the spool pivots for casting. Release the lever and it is ready to retrieve. The spool even oscillates to lay the line evenly. This reel was made by Stalder, Inc. in California in the 1950s and is rare.
Oliver. This reel was invented and manufactured in Florida c1950. In the mid-1950s a NYC firm purchased the reel. Shown is a NYC reel. The reel is shown in casting position. The bail is pivoted to the side, and the crank knob is raised for retrieving.

POWER CAST
Reel

 Power Cast. This reel is larger than most. It is made for salt water fishing, with a star drag, and torpedo type crank knob. It was made in California - probably in the 1940s or 1950s.  
Schulz Easy Casting Reel. This reel was manufactured in Los Angeles, CA c1950s. Several prototypes have been found. On this reel the line guide pivots, rather than the reel body.
Spin-Klicker. This is one I didn't even know existed until offered to me. It is made of molded nylon, and advertised as "the finest low cast spinning reel made." Unfortunately someone tore off the price label. This example is new in a plastic bag with stapled on top label. It was made by ABOP Co. of Chicago, IL. c1961 according to Ben Wright.
Telecast. This 1949-1950s reel was made by Fihe Enterprises of Burbank, CA. It is another pencil sharpener type reel. Reels of this shape were made so they could be used on top of a casting rod as well as under a spinning rod. This reel is a bit tough to find, especially in the box.
pivoti5.jpg (16169 bytes) Turn-N-Spin. This is the only pivoting reel that I am aware of being manufactured by a major U.S. company. It was made by Horrocks-Ibbotson in the mid 1950s. It is still fairly common.
An experimental rotating reel from the Shakespeare archives. Note the bail. This is the only reel of this type that has an oscillating spool and a bail. This reel was never commercially produced. (I wish I owned it)
Unknown Reel. This reel is by an unknown maker, or is possibly home-made. This is a large reel, and is machined from aluminum, except for the foot. The foot appears to be a replacement, for it is crude compared to the remainder of the workmanship.

Pivoting reels from other countries.

This is a wooden pivoting reel that probably came from England. It has no markings at all on it. It is a hair over 5" in diameter. It is a very pretty reel.
This nifty looking pivoting reel was made in Italy. The spool is Bakelite, with pillars. The rest of the reel is constructed from Aluminum. The large circular piece on the foot houses spring loaded balls that fit into detents in the foot to hold the reel in casting or retrieve position. 
Norse Reel. This English reel is quite unusual, with its tournament type spool of large diameter. I imagine it was produced for tournaments, and will cast a mile.
Angler Scout. As you can see this reel came in two sizes. The reel is unmarked as to origin, but one I purchased that came from the Heddon archives was tagged as made in Austria.
Fuji. This plastic spooled reel comes from Japan.
Longcast. This is a British product and was reportedly used for tournament casting. It is nicely made with the pivoting mechanism enclosed in the foot extension.
Olympic. This medium sized, all metal reel is a product of Japan. It has a long counterbalanced crank with a salt water style knob. It is a multiplier and has click button on the backside.
   
   

Notes
The list shown here are all the pivoting reels that I am aware of that were made in the U.S. If you know of any that are not listed, please email me, as I would really appreciate the information.

For my collection I am still looking for the Ball on Ball, Schultz Easy Cast and Power Cast Reels. If you have any of these available, please contact me.

 

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